Silence filled the room. Tentative and afraid, she opened her eyes fully.
“Believe, Talaith.” Khnurn’s words rang in her brain.
Movement.
Kailen flicked two fingers. Activity exploded in the office. Everyone except Maya spoke and laughed at the same time. Her friend stared into space. The phoenix trance had her in its grip. Soren approached quietly, stood behind his mate, clasping her shoulders.
A hint of a smile appeared on Kailen’s face, and Talaith’s paralysis ended. She fell on him, holding him as tight as she could while relishing his reassuring warmth. She covered him with kisses as she uttered a silent prayer of thanks to the universe.
“I’m confused. Feel…weak.” His voice was thin and scratchy. “What happened, a stór?”
“Unbelievable.” She smiled. “I have so much to tell you, my love.”
He frowned. “I remember Dubtach aiming for you… Nothing more.”
“Relax, try not to speak. I will explain everything, but after you’ve recovered.”
Eachann strode past her, heading for Khnurn’s cell. He touched the sorcerer. Shaking his head, he turned to face the room, his expression dark.
“I’m sorry, lass,” he said.
Her stomach plummeted. She pushed off the floor to stand, but Maya grabbed her arm with a fierce grip. “Do not fight this. The universe calls. It’s his time.”
“Impossible. That can’t be.” She struggled with all her strength, jerking free from Maya’s grip. “He’s fine. I spoke to him a minute ago.”
Eachann stood in front of her. She could never fight the powerful vampire.
His expression was kind. “Let it be, lass. Let it be.” He clasped her shoulders.
“Khnurn has transcended to the spiritual realm,” Maya whispered. “You’re his beloved protégé. His guidance and protection will come to you always.”
“No!” She covered her ears, refusing to accept Maya’s and Eachann’s words. “Bring him back. Bring him back.”
“Only one at a time, mandates the universe,” Maya said. “Khnurn chose for you.”
Why was this happening to her? This was too much, too much. Her brain spun at high speed repeating the same absurd thought: Khnurn is gone. Khnurn is gone.
“Talaith?” Weakly, Kailen reached for her.
She grasped his hand between hers and pressed it to her chest.
Khnurn had chosen happiness for her. A profound calmness took her. She understood and stopped struggling.
One soul’s departure was long overdue. The other was in the prime of its existence. The second was rightfully hers, and it had been returned. Be at peace.
She dropped her head in acceptance. “What do we do now?”
“We gather up the pieces,” Soren said. “We depart this place of death magic and sadness and go home. There, in the company of friends and loved ones, we heal our wounded, rejoice in the miracle of Kailen’s return, and mourn Khnurn’s life properly.”
During the fourteen-hour period that followed Kailen’s return to life, a pervasive chill took root in his system and wouldn’t let go. Because this was new ground for everyone, careful consideration was given to the circumstances. Maya concluded the cold was the aftereffect of death magic and its shadow. Zuberi and Fritiof concurred, and Soren gave orders to arrange the conservatory for Kailen’s use. Planters were moved to the sides, and lounge chairs took their place. Since summer was in full swing, the hardier shrubs were taken outside.
“This is so unnecessary,” Kailen protested when Talaith fussed, arranging his legs on the lounger, tucking a thick blanket around him, and fluffing a pillow behind his head.
“Maybe so, but you can’t take this enjoyment from me. I almost lost you, Kailen, and I’m not finished touching and pampering you.”
“It’s bad enough you eliminated Dubtach when I was supposed to do it,” he huffed. “Now you’re handling me like I’m a child.”
His words stunned her. Did he resent her retaliation? She hadn’t planned it. Dubtach’s actions had taken that choice from her.
“Gods, no, Kailen. From the start, I’ve respected your desire for payback. Interfering with your purpose was never a thought. You saved me, protected me with your life. When I saw you there…on the floor…after he hurt you, I couldn’t handle it. I lost my mind and struck out.”
“Come here.” He held her hand and tugged, forcing her to sit at the edge of his lounger. “That didn’t come out right. It was a really poor attempt to make fun of myself. Everything you did was perfect. I am so proud of you, a stór. Truthfully, it doesn’t matter at all if you or I dispatched Dubtach. The mage was evil and had to go. I only wish I’d seen it happen.”
“No big deal, it went too quickly for my taste. Almost anticlimactic.”
“Every day is a surprise with you. I had no idea you hid such a bloody streak.” He gave a short laugh. “Actually, I’m relieved you weren’t hurt, and to be honest, I’m also delighted Maya had the power to bring me back. It’s good to be alive. I would have missed you terribly in the next world.”
“Well, it didn’t happen, and I don’t want to talk about it.” Rolling her eyes, she rearranged the blanket around him and sat on her chair. “Relax. That’s an order.”
He dropped his head back and closed his eyes. “Mmm…the sun feels good. As to the rest, I have this empty spot. I lost a chunk of time.”
“I think magic is blocking your memory by design, to protect your thought processes. Recalling what happened might hurt you, love. And besides, where’s the advantage or purpose in reliving every ugly detail? I was there. Nothing I care to repeat. It was too damned awful.” She frowned.
“Talaith’s assessment sounds logical to me.” Maya stepped down into the room and settled on the lounger next to Kailen’s.
“My savior arrives.” Kailen smiled.
“Nope, more like the director in chief. You were a three-way project, my friend.”
“Three way, how?” Talaith asked.
“Well…” She held three fingers as she spoke. “Talaith, Khnurn, and me. Did you not feel his influence, his power behind the effort to restore Kailen’s life force? I did. His spirit lingered above us, ensuring every last bit of Dubtach’s death magic was completely removed. We don’t want nasty flashbacks.”
Talaith’s throat tightened. She’d never get used to Khnurn’s absence. The space he’d occupied in her heart would never fill. Kailen clasped her hand. He didn’t offer platitudes or interrupt this moment of grief. The gesture was a quiet message of support.
Maya sighed, leaning back in her chair. Talaith did the same. A soft silence fell in the conservatory as cherished memories of the ancient mage floated from one to the other.
A large puffy cloud moved overhead to block the sun, and shadows fell in the greenhouse. The mood changed.
“I’m curious,” Kailen said. “Where’s Gisela? In all the commotion during and after our return, no one has mentioned her or her father. What happened to Alain? The last time I saw him, he was lying facedown in the dust.”
“Good question.” Maya pulled her phone out of her pocket. “Before we get into this, anyone thirsty? I’m calling for tea.”
“Sure,” Talaith answered. Kailen nodded.
She finished tapping and dropped her phone on the side table. “After your life force was restored, Kailen, we split into groups. Eachann and Talaith teleported you, Bromm, and the still-unconscious Alain to the New York mansion. And while I stayed guarding Khnurn’s remains, Djoser and Soren searched the storage area high and low. They couldn’t find a single trace of Gisela. The bitch Rhonda and her bodyguard took off to parts unknown. We need to find those two. I’m sure they’re plotting somewhere. Remember them? They were perched in the loft with Dubtach.”
“Sure, I remember,” Talaith said. “Eachann entered the fray, and Dubtach pushed her out of his way when he rushed down the steps. He was worried. Did the hooded male return?”
Kailen stiffened. “Whic
h hooded male?”
“He came out of nowhere. You were busy taking Bromm out of the fight,” she said. “Weird creature. I sensed a deep malevolence coming out of him. He did his best to keep his face covered. I held up my palm in defense.”
“You what?” Kailen sat forward.
She shrugged. “I had no choice. He attacked, and I blocked him.”
“How did you do it? Talaith, please stop mincing words. Give us the full account, including every physical detail you saw and what he did afterward.”
“Okay… I’d say he was medium height with dark hair and a cropped goatee. His cloak was well used, frayed in some spots. His smile gave me the creeps. When he aimed, the pendant got really hot, and a mental directive came to me. I lifted my palm, and his fireball shattered. He tried again, and the same thing happened. When he couldn’t get at me, he opened a single portal and jumped out of the room.”
“Did you see him again?” Kailen asked, his aqua-silvery brow gathered into a line.
“No. I went to Khnurn.”
“Guys, what did I miss?” Soren, carrying a large tray with a tea service, stepped in. “Zola had the water ready when you texted. Did I interrupt anything?” He placed the tray on a small table by Talaith’s chair.
“We were bringing Kailen up to speed with some of the events in Savannah and discussing others,” Maya said.
“Excellent,” Soren said. “When you’re done, I have news too.”
“You go first,” Kailen said.
“Pfft, I can wait.” Soren settled back on his chair. Either he’d forgotten about the tea or had no intention of serving and was waiting for his mate to take over.
Kailen rapped his armrest. “I insist.”
Soren grinned. “Minutes ago, we received an anonymous call. Interesting, wouldn’t you say? I mean, who has our number? We’re going to have to take care of that. Anyway, so far, Woody has traced the call to downtown Manhattan. He wanted to pinpoint the exact location, but doubts he can. Gisela was seen wandering in a daze in the vicinity of the old bar.”
“The bar we burned down?” Kailen asked.
“That’s right. Her elf appearance is off-putting to humans. Thus far, they’ve left her alone, probably thinking she might be a bit touched. Brant is on his way to pick her up before the authorities are called in. He’ll assess her condition. If she’s in any shape to travel, he’ll teleport right away.”
“Damn,” Kailen muttered.
“You took the word right out of my mouth,” Soren said. “I hope her mind is salvageable and can give us something to work with.”
“Do you fear memory tampering?” Talaith asked.
“A Titanian wouldn’t, that’s obvious. But Miss Sterling, currently on the run, might possess her father’s original formula. I wouldn’t doubt she’s experimented with Gisela’s mind. We’ll see how it goes. Gisela was never in Savannah. I want to know who held her and where. I suspect the intention was to manipulate her father at a later time.” He crossed one leg over the other and folded his hands on his lap. “So, what were you discussing?”
Talaith squinted at the tray. “Since no one is making a move, how do you take your tea, Maya?”
“Black, one sugar.” She smiled. “Same with Soren.”
The large Titanian leaned on his elbow, scratching the back of his neck. He was the image of contentment and relaxation. Talaith finished pouring and returned to her seat.
“Go on, please,” Soren said. “I’m listening.”
“We were discussing Talaith’s stunning face-off with a strange male wearing a hooded cloak,” Maya said. “Did you see anyone with that description, Soren?”
He shook his head.
“None of us did. Since the pendant got involved, what are your thoughts, Kailen?” Maya asked.
“The scariest and most wondrous of possibilities,” he said. “Going by the male’s description, I’m certain Talaith encountered Mage Oras. The fact that his magic failed against hers is bewildering. Oras is far meaner and deadlier than Dubtach could ever be.” He turned to Talaith. “You didn’t do anything special or different?”
“No. The pendant sent mind images, and I obeyed.”
“Amazing.” He settled on the seat. “This explains a lot.”
“Kailen… Who’s mincing words now?” Maya frowned.
“This may sadden you, a stór. Forgive me if it does, but it’s knowledge you should have. Khnurn was a trusted mage. The gods and the universe relied on his wisdom, his fairness, and his sense of duty and honor, and for this reason, the primordial god Atum lent him a pendant that encapsulated the power of the cosmos. Khnurn was then appointed guardian of the universal order. In his quiet way, he ensured that any endeavors and machinations between the races fell within the parameters the universe established. He came into existence eons ago. There are hundreds of rumors and stories about Khnurn’s origins. One fact is certain—he was ancient, and it’s possible he’d grown tired of existing. We’ll never know for sure. The point is, he couldn’t rest or transcend until he found another worthy mage. A trusted mage like him, to pass on the power of the pendant. That’s you, Talaith. In a roundabout way, the pendant chose you on its own. Atum’s ankh latched on to your energy. You’re next in a line of great mages.”
“But… I can’t. That’s too much responsibility. I’m new and unworthy. I don’t know my lineage and have no experience. Only weeks ago, I was in training,” she protested.
“Nonsense,” Soren argued. “You’ve risen to the challenge and proven me wrong more than once. I didn’t trust you when we met. I misinterpreted your private demeanor for duplicity, and I’m sorry about that. You’re the product of Khnurn’s quiet wisdom. I see him in you.”
“The power of the cosmos resides best in a modest soul,” Kailen said. “Khnurn trusted you could handle the power. He trained you. He’s the wisest of all the creatures I’ve ever known. You can count on my support, every step of the way.”
“Me too,” Maya said.
Sighing, she clasped the pendant. The ankh warmed gently at her touch, infusing her with strength and conviction. A whispered message entered her mind.
“Believe, Talaith.”
Yes, Master. I will obey the universe’s command.
Humbly, she accepted the appointment.
Eight hours later, a long procession of guests holding lighted candles exited Soren’s home and, following a designated path, strode into the woods. The funeral was about to commence.
The full moon, a huge yellow disc, rose so close to the line of pine trees, Talaith thought she could touch it. In the middle of a natural clearing, a twelve-foot-tall funeral pyre stood above the ground. According to ancient Roman tradition, Khnurn’s casket had been inserted midway in a mesh of logs that promised to burn quickly and vigorously. Flaming torches surrounding the structure cast eerie shapes on the ground and on the leaders of all supernatural races. Dressed in their most traditional and elegant fineries, everyone came to pay their respects. No one would dare miss Khnurn’s funeral, lest the universe take offense and their race fall into misfortune.
The sole exception was Astarot and his daemons, the race bound to the exile realm. She knew the truth, and for the sake of general calm, the information had been kept secret. Mage Oras was at large, and until he was captured or eliminated, the collapse of the magic containing the exile realm and the ensuing escape of Astarot were both real possibilities.
As leader after leader walked around the pyre, bowed, and inserted a stone within the lattice woodwork, she pushed schemes, capture strategies, and battle plans aside. This was a moment of respectful contemplation.
At first, she’d struggled with angry rebellion and denial. Then later, listening to Kailen, Fritiof, and Eachann, who’d known her master the best and the longest, she made peace with his departure. Now, standing next to Sabah and Kailen, she came to bid farewell and to welcome his next form. Fire was the conduit to the ultimate transcendence; she would honor it and believe he’d w
atch over her in whatever configuration he chose. He deserved nothing less. More importantly, she’d resolved to discard skepticism and trust the faith he’d placed in her.
Speeches in Khnurn’s honor continued. She barely listened. The voices became a droning background against a stream of fond snippets that flashed through her mind. Scenes of Khnurn teaching her, showing her the nature of herbs and gems, guiding her through the steps of easy spells, and throwing his hands in the air in mock anger when she messed up. She wasn’t his natural daughter—that had been established with Kailen’s help—and she didn’t remember when Khnurn took her in either. Nevertheless, he was in her very first unblocked memory, a true father in every sense, almost… Only one puzzle remained unresolved.
“I hear the rumblings. Where’s your mind?” Kailen whispered.
She sighed. “Do you remember our conversation in Scotland? About my mysterious origins?”
“Of course.”
“We were going to decipher the riddle. Then life got complicated, events tumbled one after the other, and the next time I saw Khnurn alive, Dubtach had captured him. I couldn’t ask him to unblock my memories.”
Kailen squeezed her hand. “Yes. We could barely catch our breath. Don’t give up, a stór. You can’t release your memories yourself. Another powerful druid can. If Brysys is amenable, she could do it. She appears more together.”
Talaith sent the druid a quick glance. She stood between Adalheidis and Beatrix, as far away from Eachann as possible. Evidently, the sorceress’s common sense had returned. She’d left the teenager behind and had adopted suitable clothing for her high druid status.
“I may ask her tomorrow, after the ceremony is over and most of the guests have left. Do you know if she intends to stay in New York?”
“I’ve no idea. Maya should know.”
“We’ll see,” she murmured.
Lord Aten finished his speech. The crowd fell silent and the candles were snuffed. Her skin crawled with goose bumps when four massive Aurician warriors, in their stunning white robes and Eye of Horus medallions, stepped out of the crowd and positioned themselves around the pyre at the four cardinal points. Each warrior dipped his spear in a small brazier at his feet, lighting the tip. The one standing at the west sent his flaming spear toward the base of the pyre, south and east following in succession. Djoser on the north sent his last.
The Last Danann (Titanian Chronicles, #2) Page 30
